That sleigh riding , cookie baking , reindeer food making , snowman building , snow cream eating , Polar Express watching with hot cocoa holiday magic ? Also , don ’ t forget to do your normal hustle - clean the house , pay the bills , cook the meals , play with the kids , walk the dog , answer emails , and work , work , work . And for goodness ’ sake , did you remember to move the elf ?
Ah , the holidays - when exhaustion , worry , and anxiety run just beneath all that Christmas cheer . When it ’ s on you to be a super parent , Santa , and a whole team of elves , the holiday hustle can take an emotional toll . When you add in factors such as a pandemic , divorce , loss of a family member , or financial difficulties , the stress can go through the roof , leaving us trying to cope in unhealthy ways . As we try to make everything perfect for our children , the weight of increased expectations feels crushing and sucks the joy right out of the season .
There are a few things we can do to put the cheer back in Christmas . It just takes a dash of planning , a sprinkle of self-care , and a heaping helping of boundaries . Here are five ways to lessen the emotional toll and enjoy the season with your family .
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